Stringed musical instrument



May 22, 1962 Q. H. FREEMAN 3,035,472

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3,635,472 STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Quiila H. Freeman, 1050 N. GardnerSt, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 5,863

1 Claim. (Cl. 841.16)

The present invention relates to stringed musical instruments.

An object of the invention is to provide a stringed musical instrumentcapable of creating the harmonic structures of the sound spectrum, underthe control of the instrumentalist.

A further object is the provision of a selector system which is easilymanipulated by the instrumentalist of the musical instrument and bymeans of which overtones or harmonics and the amplification thereof maybe readily selected and controlled during the playing of the musicalinstrument.

A further object is the provision of a stringed musical instrument whichis so formed and constructed as to maintain the normal outwardappearance of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stringed musicalinstrument so formed and constructed, that the player may select orreject any set of overtones and any given note.

A further object is the provision of a stringed musical instrumentwherein fundamental tones may be dampened at the will of the player.

A further object is the provision of a stringed musical instrumentincorporating means adapted to control the production of overtones orthe damping thereof with relation to other overtones. With respect tothis object, I am enabledto imitate various instruments such as a banjo,oboe, bassoon, celeste, trombone, saxophone, base viol, clarinet, aswell as combinations of the aforesaid instruments. I

The present invention contemplates a novel arrangement of electromagnetsand wherein the magnetic flux extends upwardly a distance beyond thestrings so that the normal position for strings in the instrument doesnot have to be changed or modified, and the strings at all times liewithin the magnetic flux. The construction is such that theelectromagnetic pick-ups may be housed within the body of the stringedmusical instrument, the lines of magnetic flux being of sufiicientlength to at all times be cut by the strings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a nove form ofelectromagnetic pick-up utilizing a pair of magnets so arranged as tolimit the amount of flux intermixing between the magnets to a relativelysmall amount.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the playing of stringed musicalinstruments, including simplicity of structure, ease of handling andplaying of the instrument with all controls easily manipulated and witha minimum of effort by the player and which is generally superior tostringed musical instruments of the electric type now on the market.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction,association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, allas shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings, describedgenerally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a stringed'musical instrumentincorporating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the stringed musical instrument shown inFIGURE 1;

3,635,472 Patented May 22, 1962 FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3- -3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, partially sectional plan view of one of theelectromagnetic pick-ups and showing the polarity of one side of thepair of magnets;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the electromagnetic pick-up of FIGURE4, and showing the polarity of the opposite side of said pair ofmagnets;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a pair of magnets of a single pick-up;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electromagnetic pick-ups andswitches for controlling current flow through said pick-ups togetherwith a sound system;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view showing certain switches in diiierentpositions;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electromagnetic pick-ups with astring vibrating thereabove;

FIGURE .10 is similar to FIGURE 9, but showing a sine wave resultantupon plucking a string;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the peg box orhead of the musical instrument shown in FIGURES l and 2 and taken on theline 11-11 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown in FIG- URFS 1 and 2 astringed musical instrument of the lute type and in the presentinstance, a guitar. The guitar has a body 1, a neck 2, which terminatesin a peg box or head 3, the body 1 is provided on its outer face member4 with a tail piece 5 and with steel strings 6, of which there may be aplurality, six in the present instance, extending between the tail pieceand adjustable pegs designated generally as 7, carried by the peg box 3.In the present instance, the peg box is longitudinally slotted at 8 andthe pegs extend transversely of the peg box, the strings being securedto said pegs within the slot 8. This arrangement overcomes obstructionon the outer surface of the peg box. As is usual practice, the neck ispro vided with frets 9 over which the strings 6 are passed and thestrings are supported above the frets by nut 10 and bridge 11. As shownin FIGURES l1 and 12, each peg includes a pin 7a passed through abushing 7b in the peg box with a string wrapped around the pin andtensioned by turning the pin. This is ordinary practice, the presentconstruction differing by the slotting of the peg box or head, as shownin FIGURES 1, 11 and 12.

In the present embodiment of my invention, I provide fourelectromagnetic pick-ups, as shown at 12, 13, 14 and 15 and saidpick-ups are housed within the body 1 beneath the outer face member 4and in such position as to allow the strings 6 to be positionedimmediately above the pick-ups. This is accomplished in the manner shownin FIGURE 3 wherein the outer face member 4 is provided with transversegrooved portions 16 for each pickup. The electromagnetic pick-ups mayhave tight engagement with the walls bounding each groove 16 or thepick-ups may be held within said grooves 16 in any approved manner.Thus, as revealed in both FIGURES 1 and 3, each electromagnetic pick-upis adjacent the outer surface of member 4. The body 1 may be hollow orit may be solid and have a thickness corresponding to the thickness ofthe neck, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. In some instances the body may beprovided with a sound box, as is usual practice, although I have foundthat a construction such as shown in FIGURES l and 2 operatessatisfactorily. The exact character of the body is not material. Theelectromagnetic pick-ups by being depressed below the outer face member4 of the body do not interfere with the plucking of the strings 6.

As shown in FIGURES 4 to 6 inclusive, the electromagnetic pick-upsinclude elongated magnetic bars 2% and 21. Each magnetic bar is ofidentical construction and provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove 22 on one surface thereof. The other sur'face'is plane and theplane surface of the two bars are separated by a non-magnetic bar 223.One longitudinal top or edge of each bar magnet is of one polarity andthe opposite edge is of opposite polarity. Referring to FIGURE 6, thetop edges of the magnetic bars 29 and 21, which are of the permanentmagnet type, are South Polar while the opposite edges of the magneticbars are North Polar. By this arrangement, the top and bottom edges ofthe two magnetic bars 20 and 21 have like polarities and tend to repeleach other. The non-magnetic spacer bar 23 separates the magnetic barsso that the inter-mixing of magnetic flux between the bars is limited toa relatively small amount and the magnetic flux of each magnetic barextends upwardly and outwardly from each bar and downwardly towards theopposite edge of each'bar. Each pair of magnetic bars are surrounded bya coil of wire, as shown in FIGURE 4 at 24, there being a lead 25 fromthe inside of the coil of wire and a lead 26 from the outermost coil ofwire. It is noted that the coil 24 lies within a the magnetic flux ofeach bar magnet of the pair. Thus the magnetic flux by cutting the coil24 generates an electric current of' a certain frequency and thiscurrent is directed in a manner to be hereinafter described to volumeand tone controls, see FIGURE 7 at 27 and 28 and thence to an amplifyingsystem 29 and a loud speaker system 30. I have not detailed theconstruction of the volume and tone controls nor the character of theamplifier nor the loud speaker as these are ordinary on the market.

Positioned on the outer face member 4 of the body are a series of switchknobs 31, 32, and 34. It will be noted that the switches are adjacentthe electromagnetic pick-ups and in a position to be readily turned bythe instrumentalist. The switch knobs, as stated, are on the exteriorsurface of the board 4 while the switch mechanism is housed within thebody. Each switch is of identical construction and is of the double poletriple throw type having three switch arm positions. Switches of thischaracter are available on the open market, and as illustrateddiagrammatically, in FIGURES 7 and 8, include two switch arms 40 and 41which are moved simultaneously when the switch knobs are turned so thatthe switch arms engage contacts 50*, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55. Thus whenthe switch knob is rotated, switch arms 40 and 41 are always inalignment but may upon a turnring of the switch knob, move from contacts50 and 55 to other contacts such as 51, and 54; 52 and 53. When theswitch arms 40 and 41 are in engagement with contacts 50' and 5-5, theelectromagnetic pick-up is not being utilized and hence this gives thestarting position for each switch knob. For instance, as shown in FIGURE1, the switch knobs are so positioned that the contact arms 40 and 41are in engagement with contacts 50 and 55. The inside lead for each coilis secured to contact points 53 and 51. Contact point 54 through lead 42connects with contact point 52 and the outer coil lead 26, while theopposite contact point 53 through lead 43 connects with contact 51.

The switching arrangement for each electromagnetic pick-up is such thatthree positions are shown for each pick-up. In one position of theswitch the electromagnetic pick-up is in circuit. In a second positionthe flow of current through the coil 24 is in one direction while in athird position of the switch the current is directed in an oppositedirection through the coil. Thus in utilizing the four electromagneticpick-ups, the switches may be turned to diiierent positions while in oneposition of a switch with relation to a pick-up, the current will flowin one direction whereas in an adjacent pick-up the switch may be turnedso as to direct the current through its coil in an opposite directionwith resulting damping effect on the tone produced by a vibratingstring. If the pickups are turned so as to direct the current in thesame direction between two pick-ups, a dilierent tone will be producedand hence the vibrations of a single string will be controlled toproduce difierent sounds. It is realized that the current induced in thecoils surrounding the magnets may not be uni-directional and if so theswitching arrangement as described above can be used to alter the phaserelationship to produce the results described.

The operation, uses and advantages of my invention are as follows.

I have found that permanent magnets of the Alnico type performsatisfactorily for my purpose. Magnets under the name Alnico aresupplied by the General Electric Company and comprise an alloy ofaluminum-nickelcobalt and iron. As shown in'FIGURE 6, the bar magnetsare bipolar, the poles being enlarged. The electromagnetic pick-ups liein one plane in parallel'equal spaced relationship and are positionedrelative to the string length, bridge 11 and the frets as shown inFIGURE 1, so as to accommodate the four pick-ups. The effect relative toa string 6 is illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 wherein the maximumamplitude of string vibration is indicated in dotted lines.

Referring to FIGURE 7, I have numbered the electro magnetic pick-upsfrom the bridge 11, as 12, 13, 14 and 15. These pick-ups also includethe individual switches and for convenience I will designate thepick-ups and their switches by their locations as 12 to 15'inclusive. Itwill be observed that switch arm 41 of the pick-up at '12 is connectedby lead 60 to switch arm 40 of pick-up 13, and this arrangement isfollowed for the remaining pickups 13, 14 and 15, as indicated by theleads 61 and 62, switch arm 41 being connected to switch arm 40 in theseveral instances. As shown by the circuits for each pick-up,contactpoints 50 and 55 are connected by a lead 63 for each switch. If thecircuits are traced, it will be found that when the switch arms are inthe position shown in FIGURE 7 the electromagnetic pick-ups are out ofcircuit with leads 64 and 65 connecting the volume and tone controls andthrough said controls to the amplifier and loud speaker systems. If weconsider the circuit shown in FIGURE 8 and leave the switch arms in theposition shown in FIGURE 7 for the electromagnetic pick-ups at 13, 14and 15, and turn the switch arms 40 and *41 to the position shown inFIGURE 8 for pick-up 12, the switch arms will engage contacts 51 and 54.Thus the pick-up at 12 is now incircuit with the volume and tonecontrols 27 and 28'. The outside coil lead 26 is in circuit with contact54 and through the switch arm 40 with lead 65. The inside coil lead 25connects with contact 51 and through the switch arm 41 with lead 64.Theoretically, at least, the flow of current is from the inside windingof the coil to the outside winding thereof, or vice versa. If we assumethat the switch arms 40 and 41 of the second electromagnetic pick-up at13 are in engagement with contacts 52, 53, then following the same 1notation as before, the current flow through the coil will be from theoutside coil to the lead for the inside coil and the currents directedthrough the pick-up coils at their respective stations 12 and 13 wouldbe in opposite directions and therefore would mute the overtones as wellas the fundamental notes of the vibrating string 6. Actual practice hasshown that this is exactly what happens during the playing of theinstrument. Hence, by varying the direction of current flow through thepick-up coils, I am enabled to have a full selection of overtones toproduce sounds of diiferent instruments. By way of further example, Imay produce the tone of the oboe by turning the switch for theelectromagnetic pick-up at 12 to the position where the switch arms 40and 41 make contact with contacts 52 and 53. When the current from onepick-up mixes with a second pick-up, the second pick-up has a dampingeffect. When two pick-ups have 55' their switches so turned as to be inthe position shown in FIGURE 7; i.-e., the arms 40 and 41 in contactwith contacts 50 and 55, both oi the pick-ups are out of the circuit.When the pick-up controlled by the switch for pick-up 12 is moved to theposition shown in FIGURE 8, this pick-up is, of course, in circuit. Uponturning the knob 32 for the pick-up at 13, so that the switch arms 40and 41 lie in the position which makes contact with contacts 51 and 54,the pick-up at 13 is in circuit and upon turning the switch arms forpick-up 12 so that the arms extend between contacts 52 and 53, thedirection of flow of electricity is reversed. The only time that thereis a damping effect is when the harmonic or portions of harmonics arethe same when picked up by two or more of the electromagnetic pick-ups.If one string 6 is plucked and there are two pick-ups, certain of theharmonics will be damped and others will be passed to the volume andtone controls. All harmonics are in the middle register and are audibleto the human ear. With this instrument, 1 may select harmonics orportions thereof to create difierent sounds by a combination of sounds.If all of the switch aims are turned so that the arms 40 and 41 liebetween contacts 51 and 54, there is an over abundance of overtones anda very rich sound. The same is true if all of the arms lie betweencontacts 52 and 53. It will be seen that the entire purpose of theswitching arrangement is to select or reject any one or all of the tourelectromagnetic pick-ups at any given time and to reverse the flow ofcurrent of any one or all pick-ups at any given time.

Other features of my invention which should be noted is the arrangementof the peg box or head. The slot 8 receives ends of the pegs and thusrenders the seeming of the strings 6 to the pegs an easy matter for theinstrumentalist as the string ends may be passed through openings 70 inthe pegs and the pegs turned to tension the strings. In case of stringbreakage, the string is easily replaced and in a simpler and moreefficient manner than Where the pegs must turn upstanding pegs on thepeg box, as is normal practice.

FIGURE 1 likewise shows a simple method wherein, without detracting fromthe appearance of the instrument, leads from the volume and tone controlmay be secured to the amplifier and speaker systems. Thus leads from thevolume and tone control connect with a socket 7t) on the side of theinstrument which receives a plug 71 and through suitable connectionsconnects to the amplifier. In no case have I shown any source ofelectrical current, but the use of such a current is, of course,intended for the amplifier and loud speaker system and a current of thedirect type may be supplied to the coils of the various pick-ups,although in actual practice I have not found such a requirementnecessary. However, I do not exclude this possibility.

By dividing the switching circuit and using separate output leadsconsisting of two grounds and two positive leads which are connected totwo separate amplifiers and speakers, a very novel stereophonic efiectcan be obtained which also imitates different instruments.

I claim:

A musical instrument including: a plurality of spaced apart steelstrings, a plurality of pick-up means mounted in spaced apart, parallelrelationship in said instrument beneath the strings, each pick-up meanscomprising a pair of spaced apart bar magnets which extend transverselyof the plurality of steel strings, the top edge of each magnet havingthe same polarity as the top edge of each of the other magnets and thebottom edge of each magnet having the same polarity as the bottom edgeof each of the other magnets, to limit the amount of flux intermixingbetween the magnets to a relatively small amount, with the flux densityof each magnet cutting the steel strings, a wire coil surrounding eachpair of magnets of each pick-up means and means for each pick-up meansfor placing the pick-up coil in circuit, out of circuit, altering ormaintaining the phase relationship with one or all of the remainingpick-up coils.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,906,607 Jacobs May 2, 1933 2,089,171 Beauchamp Aug. 10, 1937 2,817,261Fender Dec. 24, 1957 2,897,709 McCarty et a1. Aug. 4, 1959 2,958,249Machalek et a1 Nov. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,270 Australia June 5,1941 660,741 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1951 876,500 Germany May 15, 1953

